Take a look on the wild side –

Something for everyone at RSPB Titchwell Marsh

This weekend (1 August 2009) sees the opening of a brand new wildlife viewing hotspot from where you can watch some of the UK’s most spectacular and endangered wildlife.
Titchwell Marsh RSPB nature reserve on the north Norfolk coast now has this fantastic new facility thanks to funding from Natural England and kind donations in memory of Ivor Manklow and Bill & Eve Taylor
Overlooking the freshwater marsh and on the edge of Titchwell’s magnificent reedbed, this is an inspiring spot for observing birds and wildlife. The old viewing hide was beginning to show its age and was badly in need of replacement.
Under the current Natural England stewardship agreement, the RSPB at Titchwell Marsh were successful in applying for additional funding to replace the old hide.
Roger Gerry, Natural England Adviser for North West Norfolk, said: “Natural England were pleased to be able to help replace the old hide through funding from its Environmental Stewardship scheme.

This is one of the best locations to see wildlife along the Norfolk coast. The new hide will continue to provide people with an excellent opportunity to get out, enjoy the natural environment and see wildlife.”
Some of the wildlife you might see from the new facility includes two of the UK’s rarest breeding birds: marsh harrier and bittern.
Marsh harriers are majestic birds, rarer than the golden eagle. With a wingspan nearly one and a half metres wide, they are a spectacle to see in the air.
In 2008, Titchwell was one of only twenty places in the UK where breeding bitterns could be found. In Norfolk bitterns were commonly known by locals as butterbumps!

Over the years, tens of thousands of faces have peered from the old viewing hide and seen birds from as far a field as North America, Siberia and South Africa.
Amongst the regular species, there have also been a number of rare birds seen from the hide such as laughing gull and exotic escapes such as Chilean flamingo and black swan.
It is not only the far and distant birds you can see at the reserve, many people have had their first glimpse of a bearded tit at Titchwell Marsh. This new viewing area will come into its own in August, when it is possible to see bearded tits right out in the open on the edge of the reed bed in front of the hide.

The new hide will be officially opened on 1 August by Natural England and children from the newly formed Kings Lynn RSPB Wildlife Explorers group.
Stuart Hall from the Wildlife Explorers said: “If you would like your children to get up close and personal to some fantastic wildlife then this new hide is the place to do it from!”

Keen not to detract from the fabulous coastal landscapes, the RSPB along with Custom Made Wooden Buildings, designed the hide with a living ‘green’ roof. This will be planted with local plants, which will enable it to blend in well with the local scenery. The hide also features a large glazed picture window, movable seating and is full accessible for all visitors.

Robert Coleman, site manager at Titchwell said: “I am looking forward to showing people some fantastic wildlife from the new hide and I am sure that it will become just as famous as it’s predecessor”